For a long time, I was in a constant battle with myself over my drinking. I thought my life was manageable. However, I neglected to address my loneliness, low self-esteem and lack of healthy boundary setting, all of which put my addiction into full swing. Not knowing how to deal with my issues, in both my work and personal life, I drank them away. For three days, I walked along the beach as fast as I could and on the third day, I fell to my knees. Holding onto a cross my mom gave me, I cried out to God, “I don’t want to be this person anymore.” I was sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.
After making the attempt to scale back on my drinking shortly thereafter, I met someone, almost serendipitously, at a party who had 13 years of sobriety, leaving me inspired to finally take the plunge into AA.
Path to Recovery
My life has changed so much since 2005 and I have been rewriting my new life story ever since. While I found recovery to be a challenge with my low self-worth, depression, and childhood trauma, working with my sponsor helped me to see other aspects of my character defects which needed to be dealt with in order to fully recover. While I did not go into therapy or get into treatment, I was able to help myself by reading self-help books, meditation, and attending Louise Hay seminars, which introduced me to many people who promote self-awareness and AA retreats.
I am now a counselor for clients with co-occurring disorders for the past 10 years and it gives me great joy when I see clients rewriting their own recovery journey. I am also a Recovery Life Coach working with clients to set healthy personal goals to enhance their recovery to another level. With my deep understanding of what addiction is about, I have made it my mission to help people have a fulfilling life. The past three years working for Sanctuary Centers has allowed me to share my recovery story to those who are struggling with not just their recovery but mental health too. I have worked for various organizations but Sanctuary is the only place I know of that goes the extra mile to help clients with supporting their needs along with the groups giving clients various options to better enhance their life with CBT, Actualizing self-care, Keeping calm for anxiety, Effective recovery strategies, and Peers in Recovery coaching program just to name a few. They are expanding into a solid one-unit organization with having an integrated care clinic for clients and the community. I have been moved by their efforts to include the local community and continue to expand their kindness for hope for the future in the addiction field.
Finding Community During Recovery Month
During the month of September, we celebrate Recovery Month, which is a time to bring awareness to the community resources available but also to inform the local community of what Sanctuary Centers is all about and how Sanctuary could be a stepping stone for someone seeking assistance with their journey of recovery. I invite you to join me for our annual Recovery Month event, which is a free event open to the public. It is events like these where I am inspired by the many different stories and faces of recovery and I am reminded of just how large and supportive our recovery community really is.
About the Author
Georgette Walkins, CADC-II
Georgette Walkins, CADC-II is a Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) Counselor/Case Manager at Sanctuary Centers and is a IAPRC-certified Recovery Life Coach. She has completed educational courses through Antioch University’s BA psychology program. Georgette previously worked at Casa Serena Women’s Residential Treatment Program, La Ventana Co-Occurring Treatment Center, Ventura County Behavioral Health “A new start for women” program, and Action Family counseling for teenagers.
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Well done, Georgette! Thank you so much for writing this!